British Leyland Rover

Active Member
The carb kept getting blocked on an incline and the issue was clearly a rusty fuel tank. Draining it didn't help and it was also missing the brass gauze filter on the pick up pipe. I wish I replaced it sooner, the petrol looks a lot cleaner in the inline fuel filter now.
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Theoretically without the gauze, it could pull up pea sized crud and block the pipe before it gets to inline filter?
True.
If it's a new tank, it's modern petrol really that mucky?
My bikes don't have anything on the end and they have narrower pipes
 
Why were the tanks not Plastic ? Just curious some late 70's cars had plastic tanks and they are still going strong.
 
True.
If it's a new tank, it's modern petrol really that mucky?
I refurbed my passenger side tank a few years ago cleaned out and “painted” with fuel tank sealer inside it gave a nice clean grey finish, I had the filler cap off last week and there was crud sitting on bottom surprisingly!, although mine diesel if it makes any difference

I guess they were designed to be used in adverse conditions abroad where fuel quality not as good as here
 
Why were the tanks not Plastic ? Just curious some late 70's cars had plastic tanks and they are still going strong.
I would have bought a plastic tank if available. Stainless or aluminium were too expensive. The steel tanks are like the chassis, they rot inside out. Is a plastic tank any more likely to get punctured off roading?
 
I would have bought a plastic tank if available. Stainless or aluminium were too expensive. The steel tanks are like the chassis, they rot inside out. Is a plastic tank any more likely to get punctured off roading?
It would take a hell of a lot to puncture and it should be protected by the chassis/other elements in the main part. I guess metal was probably cheaper back then.
 
steel is more durable and yes can potentially get scraped/bashed off road if you try hard enough.. possibly regulations at the time about unprotected/exposed tanks.. i dont know
 
The original Rover tanks were not just steel - although I'm not exactly sure what the protective coating was.
Years ago I thought they were galvanised, but I think Tin plated is more likely as the tank was soldered to the bash plate that came with it.
And tin plated obviously much thicker than a baked bean can.
Also I think that there is a reaction problem between zinc and diesel fuel that means galvanised is unsuitable.
Whatever Rover used they were good for about thirty years before they rotted out.
You won't get that from a Britpart replica
 
The original Rover tanks were not just steel - although I'm not exactly sure what the protective coating was.
Years ago I thought they were galvanised, but I think Tin plated is more likely as the tank was soldered to the bash plate that came with it.
And tin plated obviously much thicker than a baked bean can.
Also I think that there is a reaction problem between zinc and diesel fuel that means galvanised is unsuitable.
Whatever Rover used they were good for about thirty years before they rotted out.
You won't get that from a Britpart replica
Out of interest, what is the life expectancy of a britpart replica?
 

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